Help Me Choose: Hard Drives

The hard drive permanently stores and gives access to the operating system, software applications, files and data on your PC. The hard drive is the only long-term storage on your PC, so it’s a good idea to buy one with more storage capacity than you think you'll need.

Before choosing a hard drive, consider how you’re currently using your system and how you plan to use it in the future:

If you frequently use multimedia-intensive applications or store digital photos and MP3 audio files, you’ll want a solid-state drive.

If you share your PC with a family member or plan on keeping it for a few years, a solid-state drive is also the best option.

If you typically use your computer to browse the internet, check email, work on documents, and do light photo editing, you may want a standard hard drive.

Standard hard drive (HDD)

What is it?

Benefits

The more hard drive storage your computer has, the more files, pictures and documents it can store

Higher rpms read and write data faster

Solid-state drive (SSD)

What is it?

An SSD is available in two different interfaces: SATA or PCIe. PCIe has up to 4 times the theoretical bandwidth of SATA and is supported by the NVMe host protocol.

No moving parts

Similar to flash-based memory found in USBs

More secure and less prone to failure

Fast data transfer speeds and load times

Runs quiet and cool

Consumes less energy

Outperforms 10,000 rpm HDDs in read/write speeds

Provides longer battery life and improved shock resistance

Benefits

Better for mobile users

Improved performance

Durability

Lightweight and cooler than standard hard drives

Hard drives powered through Intel® Responsiveness Technologies

Wakes fast

With an optional solid-state drive and Intel® Rapid Start Technology, your system is ready to jump back into everything you were doing before you closed your PC. Plus, you’ll enjoy ultralow power consumption in standby mode.

Thinks fast

Get fast access to your favorite applications with an SSD and Intel® Smart Response Technology. It recognizes and caches your most frequently used files, allowing you to access them right away.

Renders fast

Dual hard drives are best if you work with large product files, such as high-resolution photography or video. Using an SSD as a boot drive and a standard HDD for capacity is another popular option. You'll appreciate the extra storage with either configuration.

Multitasks fast

Redundant array of independent disks (RAID) is a storage technology that divides and replicates data across multiple physical drives. The drives operate in tandem, so they work much faster than a single drive and prevent data bottlenecks.

Recalls fast

Caching stores data for faster recall. When a CPU or web browser attempts to access data, the cache client first checks the cache. If the cache contains the requested data, the client pulls the data from the cache (this is known as a cache hit). The greater the number of requests retrieved from the cache, the faster you’re able to access the data. Because the cache accumulates data over time, it’s best to periodically clear it to manage overall system performance.

How much storage do I need?

Media Type

Average file size^1

32 GB^2

128 GB^2

256 GB^2

320 GB^2

500 GB^2

640 GB^2

750 GB^2

1,000 GB (1TB)^2

1,500 GB (1.5TB)^2

2,000 GB (2TB)^2

Music

4MB per 4minute song

Up to 6,200 songs

Up to 31,000 songs

Up to 62,000 songs

Up to 80,000 songs

Up to 125,000 songs

Up to 160,000 songs

Up to 187,000 songs

Up to 250,000 songs

Up to 375,000 songs

Up to 500,000 songs

Video (HD)

8.3GB per hour

Up to 3 hours

Up to 15 hours

Up to 30 hours

Up to 38 hours

Up to 60 hours

Up to 75 hours

Up to 90 hours

Up to 120 hours

Up to 180 hours

Up to 240 hours

Photos

3.5MB per 6MP image

Up to 7,100 images

Up to 35,500 images

Up to 71,000 images

Up to 91,000 images

Up to 142,000 images

Up to 180,000 images

Up to 213,000 images

Up to 285,000 images

Up to 425,000 images

Up to 570,000 images

DVD-quality movies

Number of 1.5hr Movies — DVD Quality

Up to 6 movies

Up to 33 movies

Up to 66 movies

Up to 94 movies

Up to 133 movies

Up to 185 movies

Up to 200 movies

Up to 260 movies

Up to 440 movies

Up to 560 movies

Footnotes

Number of songs, images and hours that can be stored varies depending on file size, OS and loaded software applications.

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